In a bilateral meeting on 18 November 1996, between the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) and the British Government, David Trimble expressed frustration over not being kept informed about governmental contacts with Sinn Féin (SF) and the PIRA via the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP). Trimble questioned the Secretary of State on the delay in issuing a government position statement agreed upon six weeks prior. The Secretary of State reassured that the government's stance on ceasefire criteria remained unchanged and denied any special concessions to SF. Discussions also covered the potential inclusion of Sinn Féin in the peace process, with Trimble acknowledging the benefits if Sinn Féin transitioned to peaceful methods, though he doubted this would happen soon. The Secretary of State emphasized the need for talks with or without SF. The conversation shifted to decommissioning, with the government proposing an inchoate commission to oversee the process, which would begin work as the negotiations progressed. The UUP sought assurances against the government changing its position, while the Secretary of State highlighted the Irish government's concerns about the UUP's commitment to including Sinn Féin.
(To go a specific resource item, please click on its link.)
None
None
Copyright
None
Physical Copy Information
None
Digital Copy Information
None